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(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. ROBINSON.

MANUFAGTURB 0F ELEGTRIC GUJNDUGTORS.

Patented Nov. 20, 1894.

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(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. Ji ROBINSON. MANUPAOTURE 0F ELECTRIC GONDU'GTORS. Non I Patented Nov. 20, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN ROBINSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORIOF ONE- HALF TO WILLIAM .L OHANINEL, OF SAME PLACE.

MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRIC CONDIUCTRS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 529,fl11, dated November 20, 1894.

Application led February 16,1894. Serial No. 5001341 (N0 model-l .T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia,in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inthe Manufacture' of Electric Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

My inveniion has relation to the construetion of electric conductors; and more particularly to the method of and appliances for covering, cording and insulating the same.

The principal objects of my invention are first, to provide a comparatively simple, economical and efficient method of applying fibrous material, such as cotton in a raw or similar state, to an insulated wire and cause it to readily adhere thereto so as to permit of the application of a cord Or thread to the cov-` ered Wire and subjecting toa bath of insulating material to constitute an insulatedr electric conductor; second, to provide an economical method of insulating a wire, applying and compacting cotton o r the like thereto,v cording the covered wire and thoroughly insulating and laying up the same for use; and third, to provide suitable apparatus for carrying into effect the method of my invention.

My invention stated in general terms, consists of the method of applying to an insulated wire, while in a moist or Wet state or condition, fibrous material, such vas cotton or the like, then applying a cord or thread thereto and then subjecting the covered and corded wire to an insulating bath and thoroughly saturating the same therewith to produce an insulating electric conductor; and my invention further consists of the yimprovements in apparatus for the conduct of the method of my invention hereinafter described and claimed.

The nature and general features of my invention Will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which- Figure 1, is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a plant adapted for the conduct of the method of myinvention; and Fig. 2, is a similar view of a modified form of apparatus for carrying into effect my said method.

Referring to the d rawings with reference to Fig. l A, is a frame-Work comprising a base a, standards a and a2 and cross-beams 0,3 and a4. B,is a reel detachably supported to the brackets b, which are secured to uprights a5, extending vertically from the base a, of the structure. The wire 1, is coiled around the reel B, and is drawn therefrom through a bath to be presently explained. C, is a tank provided with a surrounding steam coil or jacket c, mounted on a slab c', which is secured into thebase a, and provided with a cover O,having openings c2 and c3, therein for the passage of the wire l, from the reel B, around a traveling roll or drum C2, immersed in a bath of molten insulating material C3, in the tank C. D, is a hollow spindle secured to a support a6, which is applied to the cross-beam d3, and said spindle having a central opening d, extending therethrough, the base c4, and support as, therefor. rlhe upper end of the spindle D, is formed tapering at c5, for guiding brous material through the opening of a device t0 be presently fully explained. E, is a coneshaped nozzle or feeding device provided with an integral tubular stem e, fitting thehollow spindle D, and having a iianged or circular base 6, which [its snuglyagainst the base of a drum or can F, which is grooved to form a pulleyf, and secured into said base by means of screws or the like e2, for holding said nozzle or feeding device iirmly to position in coutact with the drum or can F, and in order to permit of the same being rotated therewith. The nozzle or feeding tube E, is provided with radial openings e4, in the bottom and with a tapering opening e5, inthe apex of the same for a purpose to be presently fully described. The drum or can F, and the nozzle E, therewith are rotated by means of ,a belt f,engaging the grooved pulley f, and the double grooved pulley f2, which is mounted on a shaft f3, engaged by a belt f4, and which latter receives its motion from any suitable source of power. Not shown. The rotatable drum or can F, is adapted to contain fibrous material, such as cotton in a raw or other preferred state, which is lead thereform through the nozzle or feeding tube E, tothe moist, wet or sticky insulated wire, drawn from the bath C5, of the tank C, in an upward direction, through the opening in the support d6, base c, and hollow spindle D, by suitable power not shown, and caused to contact and adhere to the wire 1,in such manner as to form a continuous smooth surface of the said material on the wire in the drawing thereof and just beyond the point of contact and adherence of the fibrous material with the still moist or wet insulated wire, is provided a Whirler G, `which is supported to position by means of a hanger g, from the cross-beam a, of the structure and carrying a grooved pulley g', which is adapted to lay a single or series of cords or threads uniformly onto the covered wire 1. This whirler G, is provided with a series of spindles g2 and c3, adapted for the reception of spools, bobbins or cops g4 and g5. The whirler G, by means of a cord or belt g5, passing around the pulley g', and the double grooved pulley g, having motion imparted thereto from any suitable source of power, is thereby rotated and the threads or cords as illustrated in Fig. 1, are laid onto the covered wire 1, which is drawn under proper tension and required speed in a vertical direction over a drum H, supported to standards h, mounted on the cross-beam a4, of the structure and from this drum the covered and corded wire 1, is conducted over a guide t', and then downward through a bath of suitable insulating material contained in asteam heated or jacketed tank I, provided with inlet and outlet cocks i and 7, and a Wastecock 3, and around a roll d', journaled to the Walls of the tank I, and then'upward and forward between pressure rolls t2 and 3, and therefrom the same is conducted onto a reel, not shown, whereon the thoroughly covered, corded and insulated wire is adapted to be laid up for subsequent use as an insulated electric conductor.

It will thus be observed from the foregoing description of the apparatus for the carrying of my invention into effect, that the process is continuous. It may be here remarked that due regard must be given to the tension of the wire and to the speed of rotation of certain of the parts, that is to say, of the drum or can F,and the appliances or devices rotating therewith.

Vith reference to Fig. 2, A2, represents a carding engine of any suitable construction provided with a wiper or roll al", for conducting the fibrous or lia-ky material to and around a rotatable cone A, journaled to standards a. and 0.12. These standards are held in proper position by means of distance-rods als and al". a15 and al, are curved brackets secured to the standards du and cl2. The standard a, and the bracket w15, support the integral hollow spindle a, of the cone A, and mounted thereon is a pulley als, adapted to be engaged by a belt, not shown, for rotating the cone A, at the required speed with respectto thewirc1,adapted tobe drawnthrough the spindle and cone thereof. A7, is a funnel shaped nozzle supported in the standard d, and the bracket als, and engaging the sleeve g7, of a whirler G2, having spindles g2 and g3, carrying cops or bobbins gL and g5, adapted to contain thread or cord, whereby in the revolution of the whirler by means of a pulley gf, secured to the sleeve g7, of the whirler, the thread or cord in regular sequence is wound around the covered wire l, and preparatory to the conduct of the same through a bath of insulating material in the tank L thoroughly saturated thereby and prior to being laid up onto a rotatable reel J for subsequent use as an insulated electric conductor. The reel J, it may be here remarked,is operated by means of a hand-crank applied to one of the journals thereof or by means of a belt and pulley connection from a suitable source of power. Not shown.

In other respects the apparatus of Fig. 2, is the same as that of Fig. 1, for the carrying into effect of the method of my invention of applying a fibrous material, such as cotton in a raw or somewhat similar state to a wire after the same has been saturated with an insulating material and while in a moist or wet condition and in such manner as that at or about the point of contact of such material with the coated wire the fibrous material will be caused to assume a position thereon so as to present a perfectly smooth surface throughout in the drawing of the wire, and held thereto so as to permit of the winding of cord or thread around the same and preparatory to the conduct thereof through the bath of molten insulating material -for effecting the thorough insulation of the same.

Vith respect to the operation of the apparatus of Fig. 2, it may be here remarked and as will be observed by reference to the drawings, that the cotton or other fibrous material in its travel around the cone A, is in a certain direction until it arrives at the mouth of the funnel shaped nozzle A7, whereat in the continuous drawn action of the wire 1, from the reel B, through the tank C, between the guide rolls 01 and c, hollow spindle al? and the cone A6, the fibrous material 3, will be taken up and caused to adhere to the moist, wet or sticky insulated wire 1, in an opposite direction to that of its travel around the cone AG, in such manner as to present a uniform surface prior to the application thereto of the cord or thread from the whirler or hier G2, and preparatory to the saturation of the covered and corded wire with an insulating material in the passage of the same through the tank I, as illustrated in Fig. 2, for subsequent use as an insulated electric conductor.

It may be here remarked that the wire is continuously drawn through the members constituting the apparatus of Fig. 2, at such relative rate of speed with respect to the de livery of the cotton or similar material from the carding engine to the cone A6, as to afford IOO IIO

the necessary clearance in the nozzle a7, so as to prevent any accumulation of such material at that point in the laying up of the same so as to present a uniform surface onto the still wet insulated wire traveling in the path thereof by the revolution of the reel J, by means of a hand-crank or in any other preferred manner.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a cable with successive layers of bitumen separated and maintained by spiral bands of bitumenized paper and consolidated by coils of bitumenized twine or yarn, andthe whole, when necessary, protected by an outer covering of metallic wire, but my invention differs essentially therefrom in that according -thereto is produced an electric conductor by subjecting a wire to a bath of insulating material and before the insulating material becomes dry on the wire is applied fibrous material, such as cotton or the like to form a smooth surfaced covering therefor and then winding around the covered Wire a cord or thread to conceal the fibrous material thereof and the thus covered and corded wire is then subjected to an insulating bath to thoroughly saturate the entire body of the same and to produce when dry a most efficient insulated electric conductor.

4 Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The herein described method of producing an insulated electric conductor, which con sists in continuously drawing a wire through a bath of insulating material and successively feeding under required tension and applying in regulated quantity cotton or the like to said Wire while said insulating material is still wet so as to rmly'adhere thereto and present a smooth and uniform surface, laying threads or cords over the fibrous covering of said wire and conducting said wire through a bath of insulating material so as to thoroughly saturate the entire body of the conductor, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. An apparatus for producing an insulated electric conductor, comprising a reel, a jacketed tank provided with a rotatable roll with a removable cover having openings therein, means, as described, for feeding under required tension and applying in regulated quantity fibrous material to a wire adapted to be moved continuously in the path thereof and so as to firmly adhere thereto and so as to present a smooth exterior surface, a whirler or flier, a traveler drum, a jacketed tank provided with an internal roll, a reel, and means for actuating said movable parts of the apparatus,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. An apparatus for producing an insulated electric conductor, comprising a carding-engine with a wiper or roll, a rotatable coneshaped drum, a reel, a jacketed tank provided With a revoluble roll, a nozzle, a rotatable whirler, a tank for containing insulating material, and a winding-reel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. An apparatus for producing an insulated electric conductor, comprising a carding engine, a rotatable cone located adjacent thereto and provided with a hollow spindle, afunnel shaped feeding device, a whirler, tanks adapted to contain insulating material and rotatable reels adapted to contain the wire and resultant product, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. An apparatus for producing an insulated electric conductor, comprising a carding engine having a delivery roll or rolls, a rotatable cone located adjacent thereto, a funnel shaped nozzle partially surrounding one portion of said cone, a rotatable whirler, a reel, tanks adapted to contain insulating material and a rotatable reel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN ROBINSON. Vitnesses:

THOMAS M. SMITH, RICHARD C. MAXWELL. 

